Armaran chapter 5

In the next morning her cousins helped pack onto the carriage all the things Amina wanted to take with her straight away. The odd cousin drove her to the village where her cousins had come to pick her up a few days earlier. He arranged a rental carriage and a driver for her and they moved all her things to the other carriage. Then the cousin took Amina a little further away from the carriages. ”I hope you make it back safely. The Gahim in this area can be unpredictable at times, but they don't usually harm anyone who is not a threat to them. Just remember to be polite.”

Amina nodded. ”I always try to be.”

The cousin smiled and nodded. ”The driver will take you eastwards from here. It'll be a shorter way to the great roundabout from there. I'm sure you can find another carriage and a driver over there.”

Amina hesitated. She had never bargained with anyone about anything. What if someone tried to cheat her? Would she be safe?

The cousin gave her a clumsy pat on the shoulder. It was probably meant as encouragement.

Amina sighed and returned to the carriage. The driver was ready to go.

”I'm sure you'll make it at least past two villages from here before nightfall. You'll find new opportunities there,” the cousin whispered after the carriage as it jerked and moved forward.

The weather was cloudy and Amina glanced often at the sky, waiting for rain. The driver didn't speak much because he obviously didn't know what to talk about with a little girl. Amina hummed some old songs or merely watched the scenery. The encounter with the spirit seemed almost like ancient past now, but shivers went down her spine every time she thought about it.

As the sun was setting, they arrived at the third village after their departure. The driver asked the stable boy to help him unload Amina's things off the carriage as he wanted to be able to return home first thing in the morning. Amina was worried about the safety of her belongings, and the stable boy assured her that everything in the inn's stable was safe.

A man approached the stable and greeted the driver and the stable boy. The driver explained the situation as far as he was concerned, and the man turned to Amina. ”I'm one of the town's guardsmen. Are you traveling alone?”

Amina nodded. ”I'm traveling from cousins to cousins.”

The guard seemed suspicious. ”Why with no people but so many things?”

”Because my cousins want to sell the old house and the other cousins are looking after me. My parents died last autumn-” the tears welled up so fast that Amina couldn't stop an audible sob. ”... when... when...when... b-b-bandits-” another sob cut her speech again.

The guard placed a soothing hand on her shoulder. ”We'll double the guards for the night just to make sure no one tries to take your things,” he promised and guided her to the inn. He did all the talking on Amina's behalf and escorted her to her room. ”We'll see in the morning how you can get going from here. Now I bid you good night,” he said and returned to his duty.

***

Amina felt surprisingly lively after she awoke from a disturbing dream. She forced some breakfast down her throat even though she had no appetite. Two men were waiting for her outside the stable. They were dressed like the guard on the previous night. They wished her good morning and told her about different options to continue her journey. Amina was happy and thankful for all the help and advice and in less than an hour they had found her a suitable carriage. The guards were packing her things on it as a woman approached them. ”I hear you're going north,” she addressed Amina.

Amina nodded. ”My destination is further in the north but I was thinking of going along the great roundabout.”

The woman sneered. ”You'll get there faster if you just travel straight north or maybe north-east.”

”I have to switch to a new carriage every few villages. It's easier to do that along the roundabout,” Amina said with some confusion.

”Perhaps. But I'm familiar with this region and I'm sure I can get you a better offer.”

”Madam Fanatina is a trusted and respected woman in these parts,” other one of the guards retorted. ”She knows the roads well and is unlikely to charge you the same as any driver would.”

Amina hesitated. She didn't find the woman as trustworthy as the guards made her seem. However, she was determined to get back home as soon as possible. ”I will also need help to pack and unpack everything.”

The woman shrugged. ”Every village I've been to has some upstanding youths,” she said and smiled at the guards.

Something in the way the woman was behaving didn't envoke trust in Amina and she decided not to like her. She was also doubtful if it would be safe to travel with only one woman. However, no other driver was available for possibly several hours and the woman didn't have too many things to bring with her so they would be able to leave immediately.

The wind swept a lock of Amina's hair off her face as she hadn't tied her hair in the morning. The wind felt funny and it was practically caressing her face. Amina turned to look at the road from where the wind was blowing. A Gahim was standing in the road. ”Do you see that Panga often around here?” she asked.

The guards turned to look at the road. Madam didn't bother to turn her head. ”Don't waste your time on things like that. The Gahim come and go as they please. It's better to leave them be so they have no reason to attack.”

Amina lifted her hand on her cheek where the Panga had touched it. ”It means no harm,” she said and started walking towards the spirit. The guards murmured something behind her but she wasn't listening. Amina bowed deep at the spirit.

Panga bowed even deeper. Its shape was the closest to human form she had ever seen before. It had a distinct face. It was smiling at her.

”I'm traveling through many villages. Would you like to travel with me?” she asked.

Panga was confused. ”I don't know. I have no home.”

”All the roads are not safe. I'd rather travel safer with you.”

Panga made a strange, twisted smile that no real human face could make.

”I don't really have anything to offer. I don't even have much money to hire a driver. And of course you can't come close to the carriage because the horses might get scared... but I think it would be nicer to travel with you around... You can always come back here later.”

Panga moved as though it was breathing. The air around Amina pulsed in unison with it. ”Yes.” That was all the spirit said and stood still.

Amina bowed again and returned to the carriage.

Madam Fanatina had lifted her small trunk under the driver's bench and was waiting for her to get back in order to help her up onto the bench. She climbed up after Amina and gave her lips an experienced smack to get the horses moving. The carriage nudged into motion.

The first hour passed in silence. Amina didn't know what she could or wanted to talk about with the stranger woman.

Eventually Madam asked her: ”Why did you bow to the spirit?”

Amina shrugged. ”It's polite. My cousin said I should always be polite. The Gahim seldom attack those who are polite to them.”

The woman laughed. ”I'd rather avoid them entirely! They're better off out of sight. Why should anyone try to bring them back when there's no one tending to them?”

Amina thought for a while. ”Originally they came to people to hear the stories. Maybe they are bored. Or maybe they miss us.”

The woman snorted. ”They could still keep somewhere further away and not come in plain sight when they're watching. They always creep me out. Besides, most of the stories don't make any sense. Exaggerated or fully fabricated makebelief history so people could be happy about where they come from. I mean, what has Armaran ever had that anyone could be proud of and not just those who have made a profit out of it?”
Amina was silent. It was true, that Armaran was now and had always been a sparse area and rather uncivilised in comparison to many other countries. However, it was also true, that many Armaranians had been involved in events that had changed the world. The stories had far more truth than tale or exaggeration. The true power of the Kahtal could not be estimated as they were no more. Save Amina. Shivers went down her spine as she thought what the woman would do to her if she found out. She was somewhat disappointed as the listened to Madam's view of the world – how at the very least every man was born a defector but were easily steered one way or the other as the situation called for it; how you should never trust a family whether it was your own or not, because in the end you are always the one responsible for yourself, and anyone telling you otherwise are just fooling themselves and would be taken advantage of; how it would be profitable to rob a rich family if you were not going to get caught as aspiring for a better life was everyone's right. Amina commented very little as she didn't know much about men – to her, Kros, Jared and her cousins all seemed reliable even though the cousins were rather original. He trusted Kros and Emma and told Madam that she was lucky to be learning to read under their instruction. Madam answered with a bitter smile and agreed how lucky she was.

They stopped in a village to let the horses rest a little. Madam Fanatina spoke with a few villagers, as Amina walked around the marketplace. She bought a bottle of berry juice and a bread.

Their journey proceeded in silence. Amina would hum from time to time. They passed another village and a couple of men nodded a greeting.

Amina held her curiosity at bay until they were well past the village. ”Did you know those men?”

Madam shrugged. ”I've met them a couple times before. I travel a lot in these parts and I'm acquainted with many people in each village.”

Amina didn't dare to intrude any further. Her head was already full of all kinds of thoughts about the Madam and what she might be doing to make a living. Her attitude towards men didn't increase the options for sure. ”My parents knew a lot of people all around Armaran. Well, at least people always recognised them when we traveled.”

Madam had obviously been waiting for her to open the conversation about her family and the tragedy that they had faced. In the village where they left in the morning she had only received the little information Amina and the driver had given the guards on the preivous night. ”Why were you traveling? Were you always with them?”

Amina sighed. ”Both my parents were Fatil. We went around fairs all year. I don't remember ever being home alone.”

The woman nodded as to encourage her to tell more. ”Well, their kind is pretty uncommon as is and that's a dying tradition, if you ask me. What happened? When did they die, and how?”

Amina felt very uncomfortable. All of the sudden, the woman was very talkative and nosy. ”They... we... we were on the great roundabout going north. Some bandits attacked us. I don't remember much about what happened but they all died.”

”What? What happened to the crooks? Did your father kill them?”

Amina shook her head. Even though she couldn't remember much, her father was no fighter. ”I don't really remember what happened. I found my way back to the road that leads to the roundabout and waited until someone came.”

Madam sighed. Perhaps it was compassion. Perhaps she was just disappointed that she wouldn't get to hear all the gruesome details. ”At least your parents don't have to worry about you in the afterlife as you have some family to look after you.”

Amina nodded. She didn't want to talk about it any longer, especially not about her brothers. The journey continued in silence.

As the sun was starting to set behind the tallest trees, Madam was looking around thoughtfully. ”If we go on further, we can get to a village a little after the dark. There's also a widening in the road soon and we can make camp there. What do you think?”

Amina was a little surprised that the woman asked her opinion. ”Maybe... maybe we could go to the village. I have a lantern and a tinderbox,” she suggested.

The woman puckered her lips thougthfully. ”Just one lantern? It's a bit tedious to travel with just one but I understand if you don't want to stay under the stars,” she shrugged.

Amina didn't want to sleep in the open, but not in the fear of the bandits, but the Gahim. Fiery eyes were still burning in her mind.

Madam lit the lantern and secured it in front of the carriage, not too high to blind her but high enough to light the road ahead.

As the dusk fell over the woods, Amina was getting restless and hummed to calm her nerves. The forest got dark and Amina could here hissing and sighs and she began to shiver. The wind touched her cheek gently and she calmed down. Panga had followed them and was watching over them.

They soon arrived at the village as Madam had promised and she arranged rooms for them at the inn. Amina climbed the stairs to go straight to bed but the woman was caught up in a conversation wiht the locals.

***

Amina woke up early. It was barely the break of dawn and the village was all quiet. She looked out from the window for a while and then she went out. There was smoke coming from the bakery's chimney and she heard humming through the open window, but other than that it was silent. Amina walked calmly up and down the road. The village was much smaller than Groshna. They had no marketplace and there were only so many houses on both sides of the road, but no further streets or alleys. The last few kilometres before the village had been cultivated fields so there were more inhabitants in the area but they didn't live in the village. There was no smithery. Amina would have said hello to the blacksmith or the apprentice just to get the familiar smell of smoke and metal that always reminded her of Jared. The wind was caressing her face again. ”Don't scare the people, please. They are a little shy with Gahim,” she whispered. The wind touched her cheek one last time and the air went still. Amina looked around her just to be sure, but she couldn't see Panga anywhere.

The baker opened the door to the bakery and a wonderful smell of fresh bread spread across the road.

Amina's stomach let out a growl and she headed to the bakery. Breakfast would be served at the inn, but she wanted some bread to take on the road. She spoke with the baker and his assistant girl. They knew Madam Fanatina and they had nothing bad to say about her, though they weren't too fond of her either. Amina's fate would have been of great interest to them, but Amina avoided the most painful questions with simple answers. She was getting good at it.

As Amina returned to the inn, the waitress was putting the breakfast out and was surprised that Amina had bought the bread. Amina explained that it was for later that day and took it quickly up to her room. Madam Fanatina showed up for breakfast about half an hour later. She was astonished but pleased to see Amina on her feet, because in her experience children were troublesome in the mornings and would only get up with sufficient amount of threats.

The sun hadn't yet gotten very high when they had the horses in full harness and ready to go with some help from the stable master. Madam Fanatina went to bid farewell to some of the villagers and their journey continued in sunny weather. The next village wasn't far and it was as small as the previous one and much shabbier. It had a smithy but no inn. In the middle of the village was somekind of old and decrepit church. The road went through the village and made a large circle around the church. Houses lined the road but there were no further alleys or streets. Amina wasn't interested in paying a visit to the smithy anymore, but she was facinated by the decrepit building. Madam Fanatina didn't know its past as it had been unused for decades and even most villagers didn't remember what it had been in the old days.

They stopped a little after noon next to a brook to eat. Water in the brook was shallow but there was no bridge so they would have to walk the horses across it. Madam had decided it would be better to let the horses rest first for a while.

Amina felt the hair on her back rise and she glanced around. Panga was almost out of her sight, but something felt much closer. There was the scent of wet soil in the air. ”Gahim arimma hajahka,” she whispered so low that the woman wouldn't notice.

Something squirted in the brook.

Amina started, and Madam frowned. ”There's usually no fish around here,” she muttered as she took a few steps towards the water.

A muddy lump rose from the bottom of the brook. Wet sludge oozed downwards as the Gahim straightened itself.

Madam was shocked and picked up a hefty branch.

Amina rushed between her and the spirit. ”Hello to you, Mehga. We are about to cross the brook. What were you doing underwater?”

Mehga stared at Amina. ”You... speakhhh... it speak... to meeee?”

Amina nodded. ”Yes, I'm talking to you, Mehga. Why are you underwater and not in the ground with the tree roots?”

Mud was still running down the head of Mehga. It was drying fast in the mild breeze. The wind was natural and not caused by the Panga. ”You... ss-s-ss-speak... kh-kh... the treessss... in earth.... I'm earth.”

Amina sighed. ”You are earth. Of course, there's some earth under the water but why did you stay there?”

Mehga winced and looked at the water as though it only just realized where it had been. ”My earth... you want?”

Amina shook her head. ”No. I only want to cross the brook with the carriage. I don't want the earth under or around the water. You can have it all.”

Mehga cheered up and shook off the partly dried mud. Its eyes were flaming in a beautiful rusty brown shade but it lacked any other resemblence to people. ”I make earth. Stop water,” it said in a proud voice and gaining more control over its voice.

”No, thank you. Let the water flow. We can cross at the ford. We are sorry to bother you.”

”But... alone... I stay?”

Amina looked over her shoulder at the woman. She was pale and was still staring at the Mehga in mild horror. Amina turned back to the spirit. ”I am Amina. I am Fatil. I'd like to travel in peace. I can tell you stories it you like, but please don't bother the horses.”

Mehga's eyes were flaming and it twisted and turned. Before it could answer, Amina added: ”There's Panga over there, who can also hear my stories.”

Mehga looked upstream. Panga had come closer. They bowed at one another.

”Yesss... ssstories... I love tallllllk,” it chuckled and stepped out of the water.

The nervous horsies whinnied.

”If you keep a few metres to the side of the carriage, it should be okay with the horses,” Amina suggested.

Panga flowed forward but stopped and waited behind a tree.

Mehga jumped to the other side of the brook and waited close to the ford.

Amina nudged the woman's hand to wake her from her shock. ”Let's go. They're waiting. I'll tell them a couple of stories and then they'll go away.”

Madam was still pale but she nodded and coaxed the horses across the water. She didn't say anything even though her hem got soaked. She didn't say anything even though Amina persuaded her to pour the water out of her shoes. She got the horses moving again and listened to Amina's stories in a trance.

Amina chose two short stories on purpose and hummed one old song and then bid Mehga good day. The spirit was disappointed and wanted to hear more but Amina refused. Mehga returned to the woods and Panga increased its distance to them.

It didn't take long until they arrived at the next town and Madam wanted to take a break. Colour had returned to her face but she was still very serious. When she returned to the carriage, there was a man with her whom Amina had never met before. ”This is Jaak. The girl is Amina. Jaak is on his way to north-west and he is a reliable companion on travels. You don't have to pay him anything. We'll get your things into his carriage and move on. Someone will take this carriage back, don't you worry,” Madam introduced the man.

Amina was aghast. She hadn't said she'd take anyone with them. It was kind of Madam to arrange the next carriage but she could've at least ask Amina first.

”We'll be spending the night on the road at least for the next two nights so make sure you've got a warm blanket,” the man said to Amina and winked.

Amina was unhappy. She couldn't change to another driver but she was reluctant to travel with yet another stranger.

Madam Fanatina and Jaak talked a lo,t but Amina didn't want to take part in the conversations. She was sitting on her things in the carriage, as the man took up most of the driver's bench and even the woman had some difficulties to fit on it with him. Amina looked often into the woods but couldn't see Panga. She hoped it hadn't turned back yet.

As the twilight was setting in, they stopped next to the road in a spot where there was no undergrowth. Jaak made a small fire and Madam cooked some stew. Amina sat under a tree and stared into the fire. She didn't want any Keok near her. On the other hand, she would have wanted to see a grown man scared for his life. After eating some stew, Amina curled up wrapped tightly in her blanket wishing she wouldn't sleep too soundly.

***

Amina woke up groggy. The air was humid and cool. She turned her head and saw the woman bustling at a small fire. The man was sitting under a tree fast asleep. Amina got to her feet still wrapped in her blanket.

”Good morning, love. I hope you got some sleep even though this is hardly as good as a shabby inn,” Madam Fanatina said with a big smile. She was much calmer and in a far better mood than on the previous day.

”I wonder if it's going to rain today,” Amina mused out loud. The sky was full of clouds.

”Probably not much. Be a doll and kick Jaak awake. We don't want to waste all day.”

Amina wondered if the woman meant literally kicking the man or if she just wanted him awoken. She approached the man who was woken up by her approaching footsteps. ”You sleep light,” Amina rertorted.

The man yawned and stretched. ”You have to when you're on the road.”

They had a quick breakfast and carried on their journey. Jaak attempted to have a conversation with Amina now and then, but she wasn't in a chatty mood. She didn't want to tell much about her family's legacy as Fatil even though the man was genuinely interested in it, unlike Madam. They saw hardly any signs of human civilisation during the day and Amina was a little bit worried but also curious about how far from everything they were. In the evening Madam made some stew again and they went to sleep under some tall pines.

Amina had a night of restless sleep. In the morning she couldn't remember was it because she had had a bad dream or what, but she knew something had bothered her while she was asleep.

Madam was again in a foul mood but only at Jaak and Amina couldn't hear what they were whispering to each other. She could only see how angry the woman was. As they got on the move again, the man said nothing. Madam spoke only a few times and appointed her words only to Amina. In the afternoon they arrived at ta village that was to Amina's relief bigger than the previous they had visited a couple of days earlier. It also had a smithy where Amina went to while the horses were resting, even though she was supposed to go to the market to get some food.

The smithy was smaller than the one in Groshna, but it seemed older and Amina sniffed at the metallic smell.

”Can I help you?”

Amina turned and smiled at the man who was maybe about Jared's age. ”I'm just looking. I haven't seen a smithy in some of the smaller villages and I thought I'd check this one out. It smells as bad as the rest.”

The man flashed a big grin. ”I'm an apprentice here but I'm leaving some of the younger ones in charge for a while. The masters have summoned some of us to an examination to the East.”

Amina's eyes lit up. ”Will Jared be there, too?”

The man was surprised. ”You know Jared? He does move around a lot, but not around here.”

Amina calmed herself. ”I'm just passing through here. I traveled most of the way to my old home with him.”

The man thought for a moment. ”Are you the orphan girl from Groshna?”

Amina nodded, perplexed. She had never thought herself to be an orphan as she had Kros and Emma, but in fact she was.

”How are you traveling? Are you alone?” the apprentice asked a bit worried.

Amina shook her head. ”I rented a carriage and I have a driver. But if you're leaving today and headed North, I could go with you,” she said smiling.

”It's a shame, really. I'm going North-East. I'm meeting a few other apprentices on the Southern Middleway.”

Amina's smile died away and she opened her mouth to say that it didn't bother her if it took a few days longer, as Jaak stepped in. ”Good day to one and all. Could you have a look at one of the shoes on my horse? I think the other on the back is a bit loose.”

The apprentice greeted Jaak and picked up his toolbox. Amina followed them. She listened to Jaak and the apprentice's conversation as he was working and she was starting to get the idea why Madam had been mad since morning. Jaak was telling the apprentice how – according to him – during the night he was just going to check the tarpaulin covering the carriage when something had moved in the woods. There had been no animals or people but it wasn't just the wind in the trees for sure. He had also been worried about Amina who had been writhing in her sleep a lot.

Amina sniffed. She'd had enough of Jaak and Madam Fanatina. She decided to continue her way back with the apprentice even if she had to go around the whole Great Roundabout the opposite way. She hummed for a moment and called for Panga.

Panga walked into sight from behind the houses at the edge of the village. Villagers stopped and stared. Amina curtseyed at it and Panga gave her a short bow. Many villagers murmured ”Gahim arimma hajahka” or bowed uncertainly. Jaak and the apprentice stared at Panga in awe.

”Thank you for traveling with me. It felt safe to move around when I knew you were nearby,” she thanked audibly.

Panga bowed deep. ”It was all my pleasure, young Fatil.” It looked at the villagers and gave a wide smile. ”They will remember us.”

Amina nodded. ”You have been gone for a long time but we have not forgotten how much you have helped us.” She smiled and courtseyd again because she could see from the corner of her eye that Madam was approaching carefully.

”Good day, Panga,” she sputtered and put her basket down next to the carriage.

”Are you going to play a game of chasing away Gahim with a stick again?” Panga asked mischievously.

Madam shook her head.

Panga turned to Jaak and its eyes flamed for a second. ”You did the right thing,” it said and Amina was sure it meant what happened during the night when Jaak left the carriage alone as he heard the noises from the woods.

Jaak was serious and pale and didn't know how to reply. The apprentice took his chance to greet the spirit briskly and thanked it for keeping company with Amina.

Panga bowed and walked out of the village.

The apprentice started to laugh. ”What a splendid day! The Gahim speak to us so rarely anymore,” he said with a wide grin.

Amina tried to match his happy face.

”So you're headed towards Groshna? I don't go straight that way, but I can take you as far as some bigger roads go. I'm taking my own carriage with me anyway, so we can put your things in it,” he stated.

Amina nodded and thanked Madam and Jaak for the help and company on the way. Madam was disappointed, but didn't try to persuade Amina otherwise. Jaak went his own way, and Amina didn't see him after that.

Finally Amina had a pleasent traveling companion as she could talk to the apprentice about Jared and a little about the work of a blacksmith, and the apprentice was willing to hear her stories. A few days later they arrived at a village along the Southern Middleway where two apprentices were waiting for their friend. They were pleased to have Amina's company because traveling didn't seem to take so long while listening to the stories. They were only disappointed that they had to take another carriage with them as they couldn't all fit on one bench. On the next day they arrived at a village where another half a dozen apprentices were on their way East. Among them was Jared, and Amina was overjoyed. Jared immidiately promised to arrange their journey so that Amina and her belongings would get back to Groshna safely.

It took almost two weeks for them to get to Groshna and Jared had to hurry onwards to get the carriage back to the other apprentice and make it in time for his eaxmination.

Amina was satisfied. It had been safe and cosy to travel with the apprentices and she had made it back home safely. Kros and Emma were surprised to see all the things Amina had brought back with her but didn't reject them. Some of the furniture had to be placed in the main room as they couldn't be fitted in the bedroom, but it didn't bother the Cacco family. Amina decided that she had time to show the story leathers to Kros later.

Armaran 5. luku

FIN - Viides luku englanniksi ensi viikolla

ENG - Chapter 5 in English will be posted next week

Armaran 5. luku

Seuraavana aamuna serkut järjestelivät vaunuihin ne tavarat, jotka Amina tahtoi heti viedä mukanaan. Outo serkku lähti kuljettamaan vaunuja samaan kylään, jossa serkut olivat olleet Aminaa vastassa. Siellä serkku etsi hänelle vuokravaunut ja kuljettajan. He siirsivät tavarat toisiin vaunuihin ja serkku ohjasi Aminan hetkeksi sivuun. ”Toivottavasti pääset turvallisesti takaisin. Tämän alueen Gahim ovat välillä arvaamattomia, mutta ne eivät satuta ketään, joka ei ole uhka niille. Muista vain olla kohtelias.”

Amina nyökkäsi. ”Yritän aina olla.”

Serkku hymyili ja nyökkäsi. ”Kuljettaja vie sinut vähän itään päin, mistä on lyhyempi matka suurelle kiertotielle. Etköhän löydä sieltä toiset vaunut ja kuljettajan. Osaat puhua hyvin.”

Amina epäröi. Hän ei ollut koskaan käynyt kauppaa kenenkään kanssa. Entä jos joku yrittäisi huijata häntä? Olisiko hän turvassa?

Serkku taputti häntä kömpelösti olalle. Sen oli kai tarkoitus olla rohkaiseva ele.

Amina huokaisi ja palasi vaunujen luo. Kuljettaja oli jo valmiina lähtöön.

”Ehditte varmasti parin kylän päähän ennen iltaa. Sieltä löytyy jo varmasti uusia mahdollisuuksia,” serkku kuiskasi vaunujen perään, kun ne nytkähtivät liikkeelle.

Ilma oli pilvinen ja Amina katseli usein taivaalle odottaen sadetta. Kuljettaja ei puhunut paljoa, koska ei selvästi tiennyt mistä voisi pienen tytön kanssa puhua. Amina hymisi välillä vanhoja lauluja tai vain katseli maisemia. Kohtaaminen hengen kanssa tuntui jo kaukaiselta, mutta hän tunsi väristyksiä selässään joka kerta, kun ajatteli tapahtunutta.

Aurinko oli laskemassa, kun he pysähtyivät kolmanteen kylään. Kuljettaja pyysi majatalon tallipoikaa avuksi purkamaan tavarat vaunuista, jotta hän pääsisi heti aamulla palaamaan kotiin. Amina oli huolissaan omaisuutensa turvallisuudesta, mutta tallipoika vakuutti kaiken olevan turvassa majatalon tallissa.

Mies lähestyi tallia ja tervehti tallipoikaa ja kuljettajaa. Kuljettaja selitti oman osansa tilanteeseen, ja mies kääntyi Aminan puoleen. ”Olen yksi kylän vartijoista. Matkustatko yksin?”

Amina nyökkäsi. ”Matkustan serkkujen luota toisten serkkujen luo.”

Vartija oli selvästi epäluuloinen. ”Miksi yksin ja näin suuren tavaramäärän kanssa?”

”Koska serkkuni haluavat myydä vanhan kotitaloni ja toiset serkut huolehtivat minusta. Vanhempani kuolivat viime syksynä-” kyyneleet kihosivat Aminan silmiin niin nopeasti, ettei hän ehtinyt estää äänekästä nyyhkäisyä. ”... kun... kun... kun... m-ma-maantierosvot-” toinen nyyhkäisy katkaisi hänen puheensa.

Vartija laski rauhoittavan käden hänen olalleen. ”Tuplaamme vartijat yöksi, ettei kukaan varmasti vie tavaroitasi,” hän lupasi ja ohjasi Aminan sisään majataloon. Hän hoiti puhumisen Aminan puolesta ja saattoi hänet huoneen ovelle. ”Katsotaan aamulla miten pääset eteenpäin. Nyt hyvää yötä,” hän toivotti ja palasi vartiotehtäviinsä.

***

Amina heräsi levottomasta unesta yllättävän pirteänä. Hän pakotti itsensä syömään aamiaista, vaikkei hänellä ollut lainkaan ruokahalua. Ulkona tallin edustalla odotti pari miestä, joilla oli samanlaiset vaatteet kuin edellisen illan vartijalla. He tervehtivät häntä ja esittelivät mahdollisuuksia matkan jatkamiseksi. Amina oli iloinen ja kiitollinen avusta ja neuvoista ja vajaassa tunnissa hän oli löytänyt sopivat vaunut. Vartijat pakkasivat hänen tavaroitaan niihin, kun nainen lähestyi heitä. ”Kuulin, että matkustat pohjoiseen,” hän sanoi Aminalle.

Amina nyökkäsi. ”Määränpääni on pohjoisempana, mutta ajattelin kiertää suurta kiertotietä.”

Nainen hymähti. ”Pääset nopeammin, kun matkustat suoraan pohjoiseen tai luoteeseen.”

”Minun täytyy vaihtaa vaunuja taas parin kylän jälkeen. Kiertotien varrella on helpompi vaihtaa,” Amina sanoi hämmentyneenä.

”Ehkä. Mutta minä tunnen nämä seudut ja saan varmasti sinulle hyvän uuden tarjouksen.”

”Madam Fanatina on näillä main tunnettu ja luotettu nainen,” toinen vartijoista sanoi. ”Hän tuntee varmasti tiet ja tuskin veloittaa samanlaista hintaa kuin kukaan kuljettaja.”

Amina epäröi edelleen. Nainen ei vaikuttanut niin luotettavalta, kuin vartijan puheesta olisi voinut päätellä. Hän halusi kuitenkin kotiin mahdollisimman nopeasti. ”Tarvitsen myös apua tavaroiden purkamisessa ja pakkaamisessa.”

Nainen kohautti olkiaan. ”Kyllä joka kylästä löytyy riittävän salskeita nuoria miehiä,” hän sanoi ja hymyili vartijoille.

Jokin naisen käytöksessä ei herättänyt Aminan luottamusta eikä hän halunnut pitää naisesta. Hän pohti myös oliko pelkän yhden naisen kanssa matkustaminen turvallista. Muita kuljettajaehdokkaita olisi kuitenkin pitänyt odottaa mahdollisesti useita tunteja eikä naisella ollut paljoa omia tavaroita mukanaan, joten matka pääsisi jatkumaan heti.

Tuuli pyyhkäisi Aminan hiukset hänen kasvoilleen, koska hän ei ollut aamulla solminut niitä kiinni. Tuuli tuntui oudolta ja se suorastaan hyväili hänen kasvojaan. Amina tuijotti hetken tielle päin, mistä tuuli tuli. Tiellä seisoi Gahim. ”Onko tuo Panga usein kylän lähellä?” hän kysyi.

Vartijat kääntyivät katsomaan tielle. Madam ei vaivautunut kääntämään päätään. ”Älä sinä turhaan vaivaa päätäsi tuollaisilla asioilla. Gahim tulevat ja menevät miten lystäävät. Parempi jättää ne huomiotta, niin ne eivät varmemmin hyökkää.”

Amina nosti kätensä poskelleen, jota Panga oli hyväillyt. ”Se ei halua pahaa,” hän sanoi ja lähti kävelemään henkeä kohti. Vartijat mutisivat jotain hänen peräänsä, mutta hän ei kuunnellut. Amina kumarsi syvään hengelle.

Panga kumarsi vielä syvempään. Sen muoto oli Aminan siihen mennessä kohtaamista hengistä ihmismäisin. Sen kasvot erottuivat. Se hymyili hänelle.

”Olen matkustamassa monien kylien läpi. Haluatko matkustaa kanssani?” hän kysyi.

Panga oli hämmentynyt. ”En tiedä. Minulla ei ole kotia.”

”Kaikki tiet eivät ole turvallisia. Matkustaisin mielelläni turvallisemmin kanssasi.”

Panga hymyili outoa vinoa hymyä. Ihmiskasvot eivät vääntyisi niin.

”Minulla ei ole oikestaan mitään mitä tarjota. Ei edes paljoa rahaa kuljettajan palkkaamiseen. Et tietenkään voi tulla kovin lähelle vaunuja, ettei hevoset säikähdä... mutta luulen, että olisi mukavampi matkustaa, jos olisit lähellä... Voit aina palata tänne takaisin.”

Panga liikkui kuin se hengittäisi. Ilma liikkui Aminan ympärillä sen tahtiin. ”Kyllä.” Sen enempää henki ei sanonut ja jäi paikoilleen seisomaan.

Amina kumarsi uudestaan ja palasi vaunujen luo.

Madam Fanatina oli nostanut matka-arkkunsa kuljettajan penkin alle ja odotti auttaakseen hänet ylös. Hän kapusi itse perässä ja maiskautti suutaan hevosille tottuneesti. Vaunut nytkähtivät liikkeelle.

Ensimmäinen tunti kului hiljaisuudessa. Amina ei tiennyt mistä voisi tai haluaisi jutella ventovieraan naisen kanssa.

Lopulta Madam kysyi häneltä: ”Miksi kumarsit hengelle?”

Amina kohautti olkiaan. ”Se on kohteliasta. Serkkuni neuvoi olemaan kohtelias. Gahim harvoin hyökkää kohteliaiden kimppuun.”

Nainen naurahti. ”Ennemmin minä välttäisin niitä kokonaan! Ne ovat parempi poissa näköpiiristä. Miksi niitä pitäisi välttämättä tuoda takaisin ihmisten keskuuteen, kun ei ole ketään niitä kaitsemassa?”

Amina mietti hetken. ”Ne tulivat alunperin ihmisten luo kuuntelemaan tarinoita. Ehkä niillä on tylsää tai ikävä meitä.”

Nainen tuhahti. ”Ne voisivat silti pysyä jossain kauempana ja seurata asioita tulematta näkyviin. Ne saavat aina kylmät väreet kulkemaan selässäni. Sitä paitsi tarinoissakaan ei ole mitään järkeä. Liioiteltuja tai täysin keksittyjä sepityksiä historiasta, jotta ihmiset olisivat ylpeitä syntyperästään. Mitä muka Armaranissa on ikinä ollut sellaista, että siitä voisi olla kuka tahansa ylpeä eivätkä vain ne, jotka siitä ovat jollain tavalla hyötyneet?”

Amina oli hiljaa. Oli totta, että Armaran oli edelleen hajanainen ja melko sivistymätön alue moniin muihin maihin verrattuna. Oli myös totta, että Armaranista kotoisin olevat ihmiset olivat olleet osana monissa maailmaa muuttaneissa tapahtumissa. Tarinoissa oli paljon enemmän totta kuin tarua tai liioittelua. Kahtalien todellista voimaa ei kuitenkaan voinut arvioida, koska heitä ei ollut enää elossa. Paitsi Amina. Väristyksiä kulki hänen selkäänsä pitkin, kun hän mietti mitä nainen tekisi hänelle, jos saisi tietää. Hän kuunteli pettyneenä naisen kuvaa maailmasta – miten vähintään kaikki miehet olivat syntyjään pettureita, mutta helposti johdateltavissa, jos tilanne sitä vaati; miten kenenkään perheeseen ei kannattanut luottaa, sillä lopulta jokainen oli vastuussa itsestään ja kukaan toisin ajatteleva petti vain itseään ja tulisi hyväsikäytetyksi; miten jokaisen kannattaisi ryöstää rikas henkilö tai perhe, jos siitä ei jäisi kiinni, jotta voisi saada itselleen paremman elämän. Amina ei kommentoinut paljoa, sillä hän ei tiennyt miehistä – hänestä Kros, Jared ja serkut olivat luotettavia, vaikka serkut olivatkin omintakeisia. Hän luotti Krosiin ja Emmaan ja kertoi, että oli onnekas saadessaan oppia lukemaan heidän opastuksellaan. Siihen Madam vastasi katkeralla hymyllä ja myönsi Aminan olevan onnekas.

He pysähtyivät välillä kylässä antaakseen hevosten levätä. Madam Fanatina jutteli muutamille kyläläisille, kun Amina kierteli hetken torilla. Hän osti pullon marjamehua ja leivän.

Matka jatkui jälleen hiljaisuudessa, mutta Amina hyräili välillä. He ohittivat toisen kylän ja pari miestä nyökkäsi heille tervehdyksen.

Amina antoi uteliaisuutensa odottaa, kunnes he olivat kulkeneet reilusti kylän ohi. ”Tunsitko sinä ne miehet?”

Madam kohautti olkiaan. ”Olen tavannut heidät aiemmin pari kertaa. Matkustan paljon näillä main ja olen tutustunut moniin ihmisiin joka kylässä.”

Amina ei kehdannut udella enempää. Hän mietti jo monenlaisia asioita, mitä Madam saattoi tehdä ansaitakseen rahaa. Hänen suhtautumisensa miehiin ei ainakaan lisännyt vaihtoehtoja. ”Minun vanhempani tunsivat paljon ihmisiä eri puolilla Armarania. Ainakin monet muistivat aina heidät, kun matkustimme paikasta toiseen.”

Madam oli selvästi odottanut Aminan keskustelunavausta perheestään ja sitä kohdanneesta tragediasta. Kylässä, josta he aamulla lähtivät, ei ollut osattu kertoa enempää kuin mitä Amina ja aiempi kuljettaja olivat kertoneet. ”Miksi matkustitte? Olitko aina mukana?”

Amina huokaisi. ”Molemmat vanhempani olivat Fatil. Kiersimme eri markkinoilla ympäri vuoden. En muista koskaan jääneeni yksin kotiin.”

Nainen nyökkäsi kuin kannustaakseen häntä kertomaan lisää. ”No, heidänlaisiaan ei ole muutenkaan paljon ja se on kuolevaa perinnettä. Mitä tapahtui? Milloin he kuolivat ja miten?”

Amina tunsi olonsa vaivaantuneeksi. Nainen oli yhtäkkiä todella puhelias ja tunkeileva. ”He... Me... olimme matkalla suurta kiertotietä pohjoiseen. Maantierosvot hyökkäsivät. En muista siitä oikein mitään paitsi, että kaikki kuolivat.”

”Mitä? Mitä rosvoille kävi? Tappoiko isäsi heidät?”

Amina pudisti päätään. Vaikkei hän muistanut tapahtumia, hänen isänsä ei ollut ollut taistelija. ”En muista mitä kaikkea tapahtui. Löysin takaisin tielle, joka johti kiertotielle, ja odotin kunnes joku kulkee ohi.”

Madam huokaisi. Ehkä myötätunnosta. Ehkä hän vain oli pettynyt, ettei kuullut verisiä yksityiskohtia. ”Ainakin vanhempasi voivat olla tuonpuoleisessa huoletta, kun sinulla on vielä huolehtivia sukulaisia.”

Amina nyökkäsi. Hän ei halunnut puhua aiheesta enempää eikä varsinkaan kertoa veljistään. Matka jatkui jälleen hiljaisuudessa.

Auringon laskiessa puiden taa Madam katseli mietteliäänä ympärilleen. ”Jos jatkamme vielä, pääsemme vähän pimeän jälkeen seuraavaan kylään. Voimme myös leiriytyä pian, sillä kohta tulee vastaan levennys. Mitä mieltä olet?”

Amina oli hämmentynyt, koska nainen kysyi hänen mielipidettään. ”Ehkä... ehkä voisimme jatkaa kylään. Minulla on lyhty ja tulukset,” hän ehdotti.

Nainen mutristi suutaan. ”Vain yksi lyhty? Sen valossa on hieman hankala kulkea, mutta josset halua yöpyä taivasalla, ymmärrän kyllä,” hän kohautti olkiaan.

Amina ei halunnut nukkua avoimessa maastossa, mutta ei maantierosvojen vaan Gahim pelossa. Tuliset silmät muistuivat taas hänen mieleensä.

Madam Fanatina sytytti lyhdyn ja kiinnitti sen vaunujen eteen niin, ettei se sokaissut häntä, mutta valaisi tien heidän edessään.

Hämärän laskeutuessa Aminaa alkoi jännittää ja hän hyräili rauhoittaakseen itseään. Pimeän laskeutuessa hän kuuli metsästä suhinaa ja huokauksia ja alkoi väristä. Tuuli hyväili hänen poskeaan ja hän rauhoittui heti. Panga oli seurannut heitä ja vahti heidän kulkuaan.

He saapuivat pian kylään, kuten Madam oli luvannut, ja tämä järjesti heille huoneet majatalosta. Amina kapusi nopeasti yläkertaan nukkumaan, mutta nainen jäi vielä juttelemaan paikallisille.

***

Amina heräsi aikaisin. Aamu oli vasta valkenemassa ja kylä oli hiljainen. Hän katseli hetken ikkunasta ja lähti sitten ulos. Leipurin piipusta nousi jo savua ja avoimesta ikkunasta kuului hyräilyä, mutta muuten oli hiljaista. Amina käveli rauhallisesti tietä pitkin edestakaisin. Kylä oli paljon Groshnaa pienempi. Siellä ei ollut edes toria ja talojakin oli vain kourallinen tien molemmin puolin. Viimeiset muutama kilometri edellisenä iltana olivat kulkeneet monien peltojen ohi, joten alueella oli enemmän asukkaita, mutta he eivät asuneet kylässä. Kylässä ei ollut sepänpajaa. Amina olisi halunnut tervehtiä seppää tai kisälliä vain tunteakseen tutun savun ja metallin hajun, jotka hänen mielessään aina yhdistyivät Jarediin. Tuuli hyväili jälleen hänen kasvojaan. ”Älä säikytä ihmisiä. He ovat vähän arkoja Gahim kanssa,” hän kuiskasi. Tuuli pyyhkäisi vielä kerran hänen poskeaan ja tyyntyi. Amina katsoi varmuudeksi ympärilleen, muttei nähnyt Pangaa missään.

Leipuri avasi ovensa ja ihana tuoreen leivän tuoksu levisi tielle.

Aminan vatsa murisi ja hän suuntasi leipurin luo. Aamiainen tarjottaisiin majatalossa, mutta hän halusi taas leipää matkalle. Hän jutteli hetken leipurin ja tämän apulaisen kanssa. He tunsivat madam Fanatinan eikä heillä ollut varsinaisesti mitään pahaa sanottavaa tästä, vaikkeivät he hänestä suuresti pitäneetkään. Aminan kohtalo olisi kiinnostanut heitäkin suuresti, mutta Amina vältti useimmat kivuliaat kysymykset yksinkertaisilla vastauksilla. Hän alkoi olla hyvä siinä.

Aminan palatessa majataloon tarjoilija asetteli aamiaista esille ja kummasteli Aminan ostamaa leipää. Amina selitti sen olevan matkaa varten ja vei sen nopeasti huoneeseensa. Madam Fanatina ilmestyi aamiaiselle noin puolta tuntia myöhemmin. Hän oli hieman yllättynyt mutta hyvillään siitä, että Amina oli jo jalkeilla, koska hänen kokemuksensa mukaan lapsia ei saanut ylös sängystä kuin uhkailemalla.

Aurinko ei ollut vielä kovin korkealla, kun he saivat tallimestarin avustuksella hevoset valjastettua vaunujen eteen. Madam Fanatina kävi vielä sanomassa hyvästit muutamille kyläläisille ja heidän matkansa jatkui aurinkoisessa säässä. Seuraava kylä tuli nopeasti vastaan, mutta se oli edellisen tavoin hyvin pieni ja huomattavasti rähjäisempi. Siellä oli sepänpaja, muttei majataloa. Keskellä kylää oli jonkinlainen vanha ja rapistunut kirkko. Kylän läpi kulkeva tie teki ympyrän sen ympäri. Taloja oli sielläkin vain yhden tien varrella. Aminaa ei enää kiinnostanut mennä tervehtimään seppää, mutta huonokuntoinen rakennus kiinnosti häntä. Madam Fanatina ei osannut kertoa siitä paljoa, sillä se oli ollut käyttämättä ainakin vuosikymmeniä eivätkä kyläläisetkään muistaneet enää tarkalleen sen historiaa.

He pysähtyivät vähän puolen päivän jälkeen puron varteen syömään. Puro oli matala, mutta sen yli ei ollut rakennettu siltaa, joten heidän täytyisi taluttaa hevoset. Madamin mielestä oli parempi antaa hevostenkin levätä ensin hetki.

Amina tunsi niskakarvojensa nousevan pystyyn ja hän vilkuili ympärilleen. Panga oli melkein hänen näkymättömissään, mutta jokin tuntui olevan lähempänä. Ilmassa haisi märältä maalta. ”Gahim arimma hajahka,” hän kuiskasi mahdollisimman hiljaa, ettei nainen huomaisi.

Jotain pärskähti purossa.

Amina säpsähti, ja madam kurtisti kulmiaan. ”Täällä ei ole ennen ollut kaloja,” hän mutisi ja otti pari askelta puroa kohti.

Mutainen möykky nousi puron pohjasta pintaan. Märkää liejua valui alas, kun Gahim suoristi itsensä.

Madam oli järkyttynyt ja poimi maasta paksun oksan.

Amina kiirehti hänen eteensä ja kumarsi hengelle. ”Tervehdys, Mehga. Olemme kulkemassa puron yli. Miksi sinä olit veden alla?”

Mehga tuijotti Aminaa. ”Sinä... puhuu..... se puhuu... miiiiinulle?”

Amina nyökkäsi. ”Kyllä, puhun sinulle, Mehga. Miksi olet veden alla etkä maassa puunjuurien luona?”

Mehgan päältä valui edelleen mutaa, joka kuivui nopeasti pienessä tuulenvireessä. Tuuli ei ollut Pangan aiheuttamaa. ”Ssssinä... puh-puh-... uuuuu... puu... mikä puu..... minun maa... olen maa.”

Amina huokaisi. ”Olet maa. Toki veden alla pohjassa on maata, mutta miksi jäit sinne?”

Mehga säpsähti ja käänsi päätään vettä kohti, aivan kuin se olisi vasta tajunnut olleensa upoksissa. ”Minun maa... Sinä haluat?”

Amina pudisti päätään. ”Ei. Haluan vain ylittää puron vaunujen kanssa. En halua maata puron veden alta tai sen ympäriltä. Saat pitää kaiken.”

Mehga piristyi ja ravisti osittain kuivuneet mudat päältään. Sen silmät hehkuivat kauniin ruosteenruskeina, mutta siinä ei muuten ollut ihmismäisiä piirteitä. ”Laitan maata. Pysäytän veden,” se sanoi ylpeänä ja selvästi äänensä paremmin halliten.

”Ei, kiitos. Vesi saa virrata. Pääsemme matalikon kohdalta yli. Anteeksi, että häiritsimme.”

”Mutta... yksin... jäänkö?”

Amina vilkaisi olkansa yli naista. Tämä oli kalpea ja tuijotti edelleen Mehgaa järkyttyneenä. Amina kääntyi takaisin henkeen päin. ”Minä olen Amina. Olen Fatil. Haluaisin matkustaa rauhassa. Voin kertoa sinulle tarinoita, jos haluat, mutta pyydän, ettet häiritse hevosia.”

Mehgan silmät leimusivat ja se vääntelehti paikoillaan. Ennen kuin se ehti sanoa mitään, Amina lisäsi: ”Tuolla seisoo Panga, joka saa myös kuulla tarinani.”

Mehga vilkaisi puron yläjuoksulle. Panga oli tullut hieman lähemmäs. Ne kumarsivat toisilleen. ”Kyllä... tarinoita... rrrrakastan puhetta,” Mehga myhäili ja asteli pois vedestä.

Hevoset korskahtivat levottomina.

”Jos kuljette muutaman metrin päässä vaunujen sivulla, ette varmaan häiritse hevosia,” Amina ehdotti.

Panga soljui lähemmäs, mutta jäi puun taakse odottamaan.

Mehga hypähti puron toiselle puolelle odottamaan matalikon lähelle.

Amina tuuppasi naisen kättä, jotta tämä pääsisi järkytyksestään. ”Mennään. Ne odottavat. Minä kerron niille pari tarinaa ja sitten ne menevät pois.”

Madam nyökkäsi edelleen kalpeana ja houkutteli hevoset veteen. Hän ei sanonut mitään, vaikka hänen mekkonsa helma kastui läpimäräksi. Hän ei sanonut mitään, vaikka Amina kehotti häntä kaatamaan vedet saappaistaan. Hän sai hevoset liikkeelle ja kuunteli Aminan tarinoita kuin transsissa.

Amina valitsi tarkoituksella kaksi lyhyttä tarinaa ja hyräili yhden vanhan laulun ja toivotti sitten Mehgalle hyvää päivää. Henki oli selvästi pettynyt ja olisi halunnut kuulla lisää, mutta Amina kieltäytyi. Mehga palasi metsään ja Panga otti lisää etäisyyttä vaunuihin.

He saapuivat pian seuraavaan kylään, jossa madam halusi pysähtyä vähäksi aikaa. Väri oli jo palannut hänen kasvoilleen, mutta hän oli edelleen vakava. Hänen palatessaan vaunuille hänen mukanaan tuli Aminalle tuntematon mies. ”Tämä on Jaak. Tyttö on Amina. Jaak on matkalla luoteeseen ja hän on luotettava seuralainen matkalla. Sinun ei tarvitse maksaa hänelle mitään. Vaihdamme tavarasi hänen vaunuihinsa ja jatkamme sitten matkaa. Joku palauttaa nämä vaunut kyllä takaisin,” madam esitteli.

Amina oli tyrmistynyt. Hän ei ollut luvannut ottaa ketään muuta mukaan. Oli toki ystävällistä, että nainen oli järjestänyt jatkoyhteyden, mutta hän ei ollut kysynyt Aminalta mitään.

”Yövymme seuraavat pari yötä maastossa, joten varaudu paksulla huovalla,” mies sanoi Aminalle ja iski silmää.

Amina oli onneton. Hänellä ei ollut mahdollisuutta vaihtaa toista kuljettajaa, mutta hän ei olisi halunnut matkustaa jälleen vieraan ihmisen kanssa.

Madam Fanatina ja Jaak puhuivat paljon matkan aikana, mutta Amina ei halunnut osallistua keskusteluun. Hän istui vaunuissa tavaroiden päällä, koska mies istui leveästi kuljettajan penkillä ja jopa naisella oli vaikeuksia mahtua sille tämän kanssa. Amina tuijotti välillä metsään, muttei nähnyt Pangaa. Hän toivoi, ettei se ollut vielä kääntynyt takaisin.

Illan hämärtyessä he pysähtyivät tien laitaan paikkaan, jossa ei ollut aluskasvillisuutta. Jaak teki pienen nuotion ja madam keitti muhennosta. Amina istui puun juurella ja tuijotti tuleen. Hän ei toivonut yhtään Keokia lähelleen, mutta toisaalta hän olisi halunnut nähdä aikuisen miehen peloissaan. Syötyään Amina kääri huovan tiukasti ympärilleen ja toivoi, ettei nukkuisi liian sikeästi.

***

Amina heräsi tokkuraisena. Ilma oli viileän kostea. Hän käänsi päätään ja näki naisen hääräilevän pienen nuotion äärellä. Mies istui puun juurella, mutta oli vielä unessa. Amina kömpi pystyyn huopansa sisällä.

”Huomenta, kultaseni. Toivottavasti sait nukuttua, vaikkei tämä aivan majatalolle vedä vertoja,” madam Fanatina sanoi hymyillen. Hän oli huomattavasti rauhallisempi ja hyväntuulisempi kuin edellisenä päivänä.

”Sataakohan tänään?” Amina mietti ääneen. Taivas oli pilvinen.

”Tuskin paljoa. Potki Jaak hereille. Emme halua tuhlata koko päivää.”

Amina pohti tarkoittiki nainen kirjaimellisesti potkimista vai hellempää herätystä. Hän lähestyi miestä, joka havahtui hänen askeliinsa. ”Sinä olet herkkäuninen,” Amina huomatti.

Mies haukotteli ja venytteli. ”Tien päällä kannattaa olla.”

Aamiainen oli nopeasti ohi ja he jatkoivat matkaa. Jaak yritti välillä jutella Aminalle, joka ei vieläkään ollut juttutuulella. Hän ei halunnut kertoa paljoa perheensä Fatil-perinnöstäkään, vaikka aihe selvästi kiinnosti miestä, toisin kuin madamia. Päivän aikana he eivät nähneet paljoa merkkejä sivistyksestä ja Amina mietti miten syrjässä he mahtoivat olla. Illalla madam keitti taas muhennosta ja he asettuivat nukkumaan korkeiden mäntyjen alle.

Amina nukkui levottomasti. Hän ei aamulla muistanut oliko hän ehkä nähnyt unta, mutta jokin oli häirinnyt hänen nukkumistaan.

Madam oli hieman äreämpi varsinkin Jaakia kohtaan eikä Amina kuullut heidän kuiskaten käydystä keskustelustaan mitään, mutta naisen ilme oli selvästi vihainen. Mies ei puhunut matkalla mitään ja nainenkin puhui harvakseltaan ja osoitti sanansa aina Aminalle. Iltapäivällä he saapuivat kylään, joka oli Aminan helpotukseksi parin päivän takaisia isompi. Siellä oli myös sepänpaja, jonne Amina suuntasi hevosten levätessä, vaikka hänen piti mennä torille ostamaan eväitä.

Sepänpaja oli pienempi kuin Groshnassa. Se vaikutti kuitenkin vanhemmalta ja Amina nyrpisti nenäänsä metalliselle hajulle.

”Voinko auttaa?”

Amina kääntyi ja hymyili miehelle, joka oli ehkä Jaredin ikäinen. ”Tulin vain katsomaan. En ole nähnyt muutamassa kylässä pajaa ja ajattelin tulla katsomaan. Yhtä pahalle se haisee kuin muutkin pajat.”

Mies virnisti. ”Olen kisällinä täällä, mutta jätän nuoremmat hoitamaan pajaa vähäksi aikaa. Mestarit ovat kutsuneet vanhempia kisällejä itään tasokokeisiin.”

Amina innostui. ”Onko Jaredkin siellä?”

Mies yllättyi. ”Tunnet Jaredin? Hän toki kiertää monissa paikoissa, muttei näillä main.”

Amina yritti rauhoittua. ”Olen vain kulkemassa tätä kautta. Matkustin vanhaan kotiini ja suuren osan matkasta Jaredin kanssa.”

Mies mietti hetken. ”Oletko sinä se orpotyttö Groshnasta?”

Amina nyökkäsi hämmentyneenä. Hän ei kokenut itseään orvoksi Krosin ja Emman luona, mutta todellisuudessa hän oli.

”Miten matkustat? Oletko ihan yksin?” kisälli kysyi hieman huolissaan.

Amina pudisti päätään. ”Vuokrasin vaunut ja minulla on kuljettaja. Mutta jos lähdet tänään ja suuntaat pohjoiseen, voisin tulla samaa matkaa,” hän sanoi hymyillen.

”Harmi sinänsä. Menen enemmän luoteeseen. Tapaamme parin kisällin kanssa eteläisellä välitiellä.”

Aminan hymy hyytyi ja hän avasi suunsa sanoakseen kisällille, ettei matkan kesto ollut hänelle ongelma, kun Jaak astui sisään. ”Päivää taloon. Voisitko tarkistaa hevosen kengityksen? Yksi takakenkä tuntuu löysältä.”

Kisälli tervehti takaisin ja otti työkalulaatikon mukaansa. Amina seurasi perässä. Hän kuunteli Jaakin ja kisällin keskustelua tämän työskennellessä ja hänelle alkoi selvitä, miksi nainen oli ollut aamulla niin vihainen. Jaak kertoi, miten yöllä hän oli sanojensa mukaan vain aikonut tarkistaa vaunuja suojaavien peitteiden kiinnitykset, kun jokin metsässä oli liikkunut. Siellä ei ollut eläimiä tai ihmisiä, mutta kyse ei varmasti ollut vain tuulesta oksissa. Lisäksi hän selitti olleensa huolissaan Aminasta, joka oli vääntelehtinyt unissaan.

Amina tuhahti. Hän oli saanut tarpeekseen Jaakista ja madam Fanatinasta. Hän päätti jatkaa matkaa kisällin kanssa, vaikka joutuisi kiertämään koko kiertotien väärään suuntaan. Hän hyräili hetken ja kutsui sitten Pangaa.

Panga käveli esiin kylän reunimmaisten talojen takaa. Kyläläiset pysähtyivät tuijottamaan. Amina niiasi Pangalle ja se kumarsi hänelle lyhyesti. Monet kyläläiset mutisivat ”Gahim arimma hajahka” tai kumarsivat epävarmoina. Jaak ja kisälli tuijottivat henkeä silmät pyöreinä.

”Kiitos, että matkustit kanssani. Oli turvallista liikkua teillä, kun tiesin, että olet lähellä,” hän kiitti kuuluvasti.

Panga kumarsi syvään. ”Ilo oli minun, nuori Fatil.” Se katseli hetken kyläläisiä ja hymyili sitten leveästi. ”He muistavat meidät vielä.”

Amina nyökkäsi. ”Te olette olleet kauan poissa, mutta me emme ole unohtaneet kuinka paljon olette meitä auttaneet.” Hän hymyili ja niiasi uudelleen, koska näki silmäkulmastaan madamin lähestyvän varovasti.

”Päivää, Panga,” nainen sopersi ja laski korinsa maahan vaunujen viereen.

”Aiotko taas leikkiä, että kepillä saa Gahim häädettyä?” Panga kysyi ilkikurisesti.

Madam pudisti päätään.

Panga kääntyi katsomaan Jaakia ja sen silmät leimahtivat lyhyesti. ”Teit oikein,” se sanoi ja Amina oli varma, että se tarkoitti yön tapahtumia, kun Jaak jätti vaunut rauhaan kuulleessaan metsästä ääniä.

Jaak oli vakava ja kalpea eikä tiennyt mitä sanoa. Kisälli sen sijaan tervehti Pangaa reippaasti ja kiitti seuranpidosta, vaikkei se häntä ollut koskenutkaan.

Panga kumarsi ja käveli pois kylästä.

Kisälli purskahti nauruun. ”Mainio päivä! Gahim puhuvat ihmisille liian harvoin nykyään,” hän sanoi leveä virne kasvoillaan.

Amina yritti hymyillä yhtä leveästi.

”Olet siis matkalla Groshnaan päin? Minun tieni ei vie suoraan sitä kautta, mutta voin saattaa sinut isompien teiden varteen. Otan kuitenkin vaunut täältä mukaani, joten voimme vaihtaa tavarasi niihin,” kisälli totesi.

Amina nyökkäsi ja kiitti madamia ja Jaakia matkaseurasta. Madam oli pettynyt, mutta ei yrittänyt suostutella Aminaa muuhun. Jaak lähti omille asioilleen eikä Amina nähnyt häntä sen jälkeen. Vihdoin Aminalla oli mukavaa matkaseuraa, koska kisällin kanssa hän saattoi jutella Jaredista ja vähän sepän työstäkin, ja kisälli oli valmis kuuntelemaan hänen tarinoitaan. Muutama päivä myöhemmin he saapuivat kylään eteläisen välitien varrelle, missä kaksi kisälliä odotti jo toveriaan. He olivat mielissään Aminan seurasta, sillä tarinoita kuunnellessa matka sujui nopeammin. Ainoastaan toisten kärryjen ottaminen mukaan oli pieni pettymys, sillä kaikki eivät mahtuneet yhdelle penkille. Seuraavana päivänä he saapuivat kylään, jossa oli jo puoli tusinaa kisälliä valmiina jatkamaan matkaansa itään. Heidän joukossaan oli Jared ja Amina oli riemuissaan. Jared lupasi heti järjestää heidän matkansa niin, että Amina pääsisi tavaroineen turvallisesti takaisin Groshnaan. Matkaan meni melkein kaksi viikkoa ja Jaredin täytyi kiirehtiä eteenpäin saatettuaan Aminan, sillä hänen täytyi palauttaa kärryt toiselle kisällille ja ehtiä ajoissa kokeisiinsa.

Amina oli tyytyväinen. Kisällien kanssa oli ollut turvallista ja leppoisaa matkustaa ja hän oli päässyt takaisin kotiin turvallisesti. Kros ja Emma olivat yllättyneitä Aminan tuomista tavaroista, mutteivät vastustelleet niiden tuloa. Osa huonekaluista täytyi kuitenkin jättää tupaan, koska ne eivät mahtuneet makuuhuoneeseen, mutta ne eivät häirinneet Cacon perhettä. Amina päätti näyttää Fatil-tarinanahat Krosille vasta vähän myöhemmin.

Armaran chapter 4

During the following days Amina kept thinking about what it meant to be Kahtal. In the stories the Kahtal were described mostly as heroes, or at least as people with great power. They won wars or changed their course, they saved people and villages from death and destruction, but were equally able to annihilate everything if they wanted to. It was also the responsibility of the Kahtal to take care of the Treshti as fighting them was difficult – if not impossible – for anyone else. All of the Kahtal had been hunted down and slaughtered centuries ago because many feared and hated them. She would not be able to tell anyone what she was because she would place herself – as well as them – in great danger. Even though the Kahtal had been wiped out a long time ago, there were still many who hated them.

Amina wandered often near the graveyard, but wouldn't enter it. She was now more afraid of the spirits, too. They might want to kill her, or another Hendo might take place. She was only nine years old and didn't know how to fight. She had no memories of her first Hendo that took place when her family died. However, she was certain that they hadn't died due to the Hendo even though there were often collateral casualties.

Amina soon forgot about her worries as Kros told her that she had been invited to her old home. Her cousins wanted to sell the house and were hoping she would come and sort out the personal property in case there was anything she wanted to keep. The journey there would be long and she'd be gone for several weeks. Kros promised to ask someone from the village to take her there or at least part of the way if her cousins would come and meet her at some point. Getting the answer would take more time but Amina was willing to wait.

During the next couple of weeks, Amina was thinking about her fate and what she could do about it. Would it be too dangerous to live with anyone even though she wasn't old enough to live on her own yet? Could people be able to tell that she had changed? How great a risk would it be to travel such a long way away as she might come across new spirits? Longing for home eventually took her over and she decided to travel despite the risks. Finally the answer from her cousins arrived and they promised to come meet her in a bigger village along the way.

As Kros had arranged everything concerning her journey, Amina had no idea who she'd be traveling with for the first days as she got up on the morning of her departure. A wide smile spread on her face as it turned out to be Jared. Amina hadn't seen him much after the funeral as he traveled from town to town, as his master was in charge of several smithies throughout Armaran. Now he was headed to one at the farthest south-western corner of Armaran but his travel plan didn't change much by escorting Amina. During their traveling days Amina told many stories and they also talked about the things around them. Spring had arrived to most of Armaran and mild, warm days were common.

When they arrived at the village where Amina's cousins were supposed to pick her up, Jared made sure she got to continue her journey safely. The cousins were some of the less familiar ones to Amina, but they were excited to see a healthy and lively girl in spite of everything, instead of a quiet and depressed one. Three cousins – one adult woman and two men who were siblings – told Amina about a fourth cousin whom they shared who had been looking after the house since they had received the sad news. They were also very relieved that Amina knew most of the stories of her parents since none of them had been prepared to continue the Fatil legacy on her mother's side. It took another couple of days to get to her old home as they were traveling on foot and the roads were used by very few and were in parts in very bad shape.

The family house was big and several generations had often inhabited it at the same time. Amina could recall her mother's mother very poorly and her mother's father had died years before her birth. Generally considered a crazy old bat, her grandmother had been telling her own stories that were in no way connected to her late husband's Fatil legacy. The stories were of questionable origin and even most of the closest kin didn't bother listening to the old woman's nonsense, save one cousin – the one tending to the house at the present. The most important reason to ignore the old woman was likely her habit to tell tales about her own family even though the Fatil traditionally shared stories that were significant to all Armaranians and the Kahtal. Besides, telling something about your own family couldn't be considered objective, or easy to give words that would remain unchanged through aeons. As many families of Fatil were annihilated during the Kahtal genocide or very few members of them survived, their offspring sought secluded areas to live in in order to protect themselves. One of the greatest families was rumoured to have been completely destroyed or if there were any survivors, they were living in exile outside Armaran. Many of the Fatil families that had been under the protection of the grand chargé d'affaires fled Hadem, the biggest city of Armaran, because an order came from outside the autonomic Armaran that each chargé d'affaires should keep track of all potential Kahtal supporters in their respective jurisdiction. Any phrases that were exalting the Kahtal – whether they were part of a story told for centuries or millenia, or part of real support – were strictly forbidden. The grand chargé d'affaires had thought it best to send the families away from his city and cut all ties with them even though he had always been a big admirer of their heritage. His successors – whether they were newly elected or inherited the position – had not dared to contact the families in fear of more orders from afar.

Amina was staring at the house. It was the same old three-story building that had been supported and fixed numerous times in places where the humidity had rotted the wood. It had been built at least 200 years ago, and Amina's kin had inhabited it for about 130 years. She felt like an alien standing on the yard she had played on so many times before. The house felt bleak and lifeless. Amina wanted to go away.

One of her cousins gently pushed her forward from her back. ”We still have many hours of daylight left today, but we want to leave before dusk because we want to get to our house before it gets dark.”

Amina shuddered. ”I'll try to be quick.” She walked to the house and ascended the stone steps with heavy feet.

The door wasn't locked and the fourth cousin tending the house was sitting by a table in the main room. He turned his face to Amina and backed away from the table hunching.

Amina didn't know what to say. The man was acting strangely – far more so than the other cousins but they all had the same goal – to get out of the house as soon as possible.

The three cousins followed Amina inside the house. ”We've gathered some dishes and other pretty worthless things in the kicthen. We're planning to keep them for ourselves since they are pretty worn and I don't think anyone would pay anything for them.”

Amina nodded. On the lowest floor were the main room, the kitchen and some storage space for food, candles and somesuch everyday items. On the second floor were four bedrooms, of which one had been made into a storage for old clothes, books, furniture and other things that hadn't been sold or thrown away. The top floor was the attic which was as much storage space as a temporary guestroom and had also been the study of Amina's great great uncle, who held the title of the most educated member of the family as far as anyone could remember.

Amina took the stairs to the second floor and stood still in the hall for a moment. She could almost hear her own footsteps after her brother or how their mother called them downstairs for dinner. Tears dwelled in her eyes and she wiped them off with her sleeve. She opened the door to her parents' bedroom to let the sunlight into the hall. Amina stared into the room for a moment. There was nothing but the bed, a chair in bad shape, and a small dresser in it. The dresser looked practical and Amina wondered if she could take it with her. It would fit well next to Kros and Emma's bed. Amina opened the top drawer. It was full of old letters. She could save them for later and read them in her own time. She went back down to the main room to get a sack and packed the letters in it. In the lower drawer there was a wilted and dried bouquet that had been tied together with a silk ribbon. The colour of the ribbon was as faded as the flowers'. The bouquet must have been important to someone but to Amina it meant nothing so she untied the ribbon and threw the flowers out of the window. They would only have crumbled in the sack anyway.

Amina went to her older brother's room next. She collected all of the toys and a couple of books. She had no use for the furniture and she mentioned to one of her cousins that they could freely sell everything left in that room.

The cousin said it was enough for the day. Sun was starting to slide behind the highest tree tops.

The strange cousin remained at the house as the others left for their home with Amina. Amina made a wistful glance over her shoulder at the house once so dear to her. She hadn't wanted to go to the room she had shared with her younger brother on that day, but the next day was full of work as they were going to go through the storage bedroom. The attic was saved for the third day. Maybe in a couple of days she could be back on her way to a more normal life. Amina was surprised as she realized she hadn't had time to think about being Kahtal at all that day.

***

In the next morning, going through the last bedroom went smoother than expected. Amina only picked up her favourite toys and her most beloved possessions and let the cousins pack all the rest into sacks to be sold. However, the storage bedroom turned out to be more complicated to clear out than anticipated. Many things had been piled or tossed carelessly on top of one another and the cousins had to be very careful while clearing the piles slowly. Some pieces of the furniture were beyond repair and the odd cousin chopped them down in the yard to be used as firewood. Most of the things in the room had not been packed in any way and Amina organized them into four piles – one for the things she wanted to keep, one for the ones to be sold, one for broken and useless, and one for the things she didn't recognise.

After a light sandwich meal, the cousins moved the intact pieces of furniture downstairs in order to give Amina more space to work out all the things still left in the room. As the cousins picked up a seemingly intact sideboard, its door fell off and all of its contents fell on the floor. Amina let out a surprised sigh. Among the things were soft leathers that had symbols and pictures inscribed on them. She could remember them from her childhood. They had been passed down generation after generation in the Fatil family – perhaps for centuries. The pictures and symbols were the mnemonic for the most important stories of each Fatil family, and she herself had learned many a story as early as in her infancy through them. She didn't know exactly what to do with them because she had memorized all the stories these leathers told. She decided to keep them anyway. They meant nothing to her cousins as they were not going to pass on the Fatil legacy. Amina did wonder, however, if there would be a good place for the leathers at Kros and Emma's. They didn't take up much space but the leathers needed a dark and dry place for storage to keep the leather safe from lumination and humidity. Amina had so far chosen several small pieces of furniture and quite a few things – mostly her mother's old dresses and a pair of her father's leather boots – to take with her.

The sun was sliding behind the trees before Amina could finish the entire room, and the cousins busied her to leave. Again Amina turned in the yard to face her old home. It felt more unfamiliar each minute, even though it still contained so many things known and dear to her. They were just movables and, like her, moving out.

***

On the third day Amina went trough all the things she had decided to keep so far and take with her and asked her cousins how she could get everything to Groshna. They estimated that she'd still be fine with a small cart but she would of course need an adult to rein the horse. Some villages offered rental carts but a driver was harder to come by. Amina thought about Memma and the driver and everyone that was traveling with them. She decided to be more picky on the things she wanted to keep.

They were finished with the storage room early in the afternoon and relaxed a little longer over lunch than on the previous day. The cousins told about all kinds of events and incidents they had encountered in their lives and laughed together. Even the oddest cousin smiled a couple of times and sat with them at the table for a while before he returned to his corner, hunching over an old book.

The attic was not as crammed as the storage room had been on the lower floor but it was bigger and therefor contained more things, most of which were quite well organized, and two corners were clean – one was the guestroom, the other had served as an office space with a desk. Amina started from the guestroom corner. The bed was rather small, but in good shape. A small table and the chair beside it had been decorated with beautiful embroideries. Amina couldn't think of a place or use for them at Kros and Emma's, so she offered them to her cousins. The cousins thanked her and promised to think about it and it wouldn't bother them to hold on to some of Amina's things if she couldn't take them all at once.

Amina was very grateful for the help of her cousins. They obviously cared for her well-being and were often asking her if she needed a break. She woudn't have been able to move most of the things by herself.

The odd cousin was crouching near the desk a lot. He didn't go next to it or touch any of the books or scrolls on the shelves.

Eventually unsure Amina approached him. ”Should we go through this corner before we look at the other stuff?” she asked timidly.

The cousin started even though he had seen Amina's approach. ”I... I would like to reaserch some of the books.”

Amina nodded. ”I'm sure you can keep many of them. I don't think I can take them with me.”

The cousin was surprised. ”But... they're yours.”

Amina purched her lips. She didn't know how to talk to this man. ”If I can't take all my things with me, I can leave them here. You can read them until I can come get the rest.”

The cousin let out a shy smile. ”Thank you.”

It was cumbersome to move the furniture out of the attic. The doorway to the attic was narrow and they had to lift and turn many of the furniture to get them out. The sun had already vanished behind the trees when they stopped and the cousins hurried their return home.

Amina had barely time to glance over her shoulder as they were half running forward. Her mind was empty. She didn't miss the house, nor did she want to get away from it. All of her concentration was needed to keep up with her cousins.

The night was getting dark fast as clouds were gathering in the sky. The wind was rising and made the leaves on trees rustle and branches sigh.

One of the cousins grabbed Amina's hand so that she wouldn't get left behind as the other two were trying to light a lantern without stopping even for a moment.

There was a flicker of light in the distance in front of them and they stopped. The cousins were obviously scared. Amina squeezed her cousin's hand a little bit tighter.

They saw the flicker again but there was no one next to it who could've been holding a lantern.

Amina swallowed. The hair on the back of her neck were up.

They saw the flicker yet again but it was evidently closer.

”Can you make a spark for the lantern?” the cousin holding the lantern asked from the one holding the tinderbox.

The other cousin was trying to get a spark out of the tinderbox with his shaking hands.

It was almost entirely dark already. The wind stopped. The air felt warmer right away.

Amina gasped. ”It's Gahim!” she whispered lowdly.

The cousins looked at her and back in the direction of the flickering light. They knelt on the road immidiately and said: ”Gahim arimma hajahka.”

The flickering came into plain sight again. It was only about five meters away from them. It was a small flame.

Amina took care to stand up and looked at the little flame hanging in mid-air. ”Good evening, Keok. We are on our way home. We do not wish to disturb you.” She could almost see a transparent, human-like form around the flame.

The cousins also stood up muttering more praises for the spirits.

”You try to make fire. I am fire,” Keok said in a quite but strong voice.

The cousins held out the lantern and the tinderbox with shaking hands. ”We are tyring to get light for our dark path.”

”I guess my tinderbox has gotten wet somewhere along the way because I don't get a spark like I usually do.”

Keok was silent. It's glowing eyes were visible in the darkness about half a meter above the flame.

Amina was wondering whether she should offer to tell a story. The cousin was still holding her hand. ”Thank you for keeping the air warm for us,” she said.

Keok seemed surprised. ”Really?” It looked around for a moment. ”Yes. The wind doesn't touch me.”

Amina tugged on the cousin's sleeve and she bowed down to her. ”Can we run to the woods if it gets mad?” she whispered.

The cousin shook her head. ”It would catch us. But... If it doesn't follow us, we might be able to go around it in the woods,” she replied and nudged her brothers. She nodded her head towards the trees int he dim light of the Keok's flame and they nodded.

They moved slowly towards the woods keeping a constant eye on the spirit.

Keok's gaze followed them but the spirit itself remained still.

They continued their way among the trees slowly and turned their sides to the front in order to keep an eye on the spirit as they moved forward.

Keok was still but its eyes were glowing as fiery dots.

They continued in the woods well past the spirit and returned to the road over ten meters apart from it. They could still see the small flame in the darkness. The road wasn't even or easy to walk even in daylight but they were too scared to try and light the lantern. They were constantly looking over their shoulders but didn't see the flame again. As soon as they reached their house, one of the cousins grabbed another tinderbox and lit a candle. The other one put some wood in the hearth and lighted a fire. They all kept away from the flames. They didn't speak as they ate a light snack. No one bid goodnight as they went to their bedrooms in the fading glow of the embers.

***

As she woke up, Amina was still tense all over and her muscles were aching after stumbling on the dark road. The cousins had already gotten up and having a casual conversation in the main room.

Amina got up and greeted them as she entered the main room.

The cousins greeted her happily and were already laughing off the events of the previous night. In those parts of Armaran the spirits would occasionally attack people, but it was very rare and mostly occured in towns rather than on singular people or houses.

Amina relaxed a little and in turn told about her encounters with the spirits in the graveyard. They still seemed like harmless events but after the previous night she knew she had been lucky.

The cousins listened to her intently and complimented her on her great idea to get the spirit to teach her the dance steps. They knew few dances themselves, and even them not well, and they seldom attended town fairs where people might have been interested in a social evening.

After the breakfast they returned to Amina's house where the odd cousin was getting restless waiting for them. They shared with him the event of the previous night and he seemed extremely shocked.

Moving the furniture from the attic to the lower floors was as heavy labour as before but they managed to get most of them downstairs by afternoon. As it was physically labourous, the cousins decided it was enough for the day. They were also anxious to get home early in fear of reprise of the previous evening. They were going to get a cart for the next day and pack some of Amina's things in it.

As they had many hours of the day left, Amina told her stories. She wasn't sure which stories had been her mother's or father's Fatil legacy and asked her cousins about it. She told more of her father's stories as the cousins were less familiar with them.

Amina woke up in the middle of the night after she had a nightmare where blazing fiery eyes were following her in a dim and scary place.

***

Amina woke up groggy. She hadn't had much sleep after the nightmare. Her cousins seemed more silent than on previous mornings. One of them left to borrow the cart from a neighbour.

After less than an hour they were awoken by the cousin's exclamation in the yard. The other cousin opened the door and backed away from the doorway immidiately.

Right behind the door were two fiery eyes and a small flame underneath them.

Amina inhaled in a shock.Why had the Keok followed them? How did it find them? Why did it only come now and not on the very same night they had encountered it? Or did it have to look for them? She was shaking.

Keok stood calmly in front of the open door.

The female cousin managed to whisper ”Gahim arimma hajahka.”

It calmed Amina down. She stepped forward and made a boisterous bow. It wasn't as theatrical as the one she had learned at the graveyard.

Keok stared at ther for several minutes. It made a simple bow.

Amina's mouth was dry and she was afraid she wouldn't be able to make a sound. ”I don't want you to come here. Please, leave!” she cried.

Keok stared at ther. Then it looked at each cousin in turn and even stared at the horse for a moment. It turned back to Amina. ”You are a strange creature, child.”

Amina shivered. ”I am Fatil.”

The words didn't impress the spirit. It stared at her for another few minutes without saying a word. ”I am tired of stories. They only repeat the same pattern over and over again and tell about boring wars.”

”Then you have no business here,” said the male cousin in the house. ”We are all kin and appriciate our Fatil heritage. It is also all we have to offer.” He was evidently scared but used a tough tone of voice.

Keok stared at him for a moment and turned back to Amina.

”If you're not offering us light or warmth, we wish nothing of you,” said the female cousin. Her voice was more stable than her brother's but her hands were shaking. ”We can make them ourselves even if our tinderboxes aren't always in mint condition.”

Keok gave the woman a uninterested look and continued to stare at Amina.

The cousin outside had heard their words and came closer. The horse was still calm and he tied it to a tree just to be sure. ”We're not going to bother you on your travels and we hope you respect us the same way. We want neither fight nor company from you.”

Keok glanced behind its back and thought for a monet. It turned back to Amina. ”Trice have they denied me from here, child. What do you want?” Its eyes were flaring.

Amina took a deep breath. ”I want you to stop bothering us. We don't want to hurt you and I won't make you listen to my stories. We are going to travel to my home for a couple of more days. I wish you don't bother us on the road or in our destination.”

Keok nodded. ”My curiosity shall remain unfullfilled. You are a strange creature, child.” It walked away and passed the cousin and the cart. The horse snorted restlessly but calmed down after the spirit had passed it.

Amina looked at the spot where Keok had stood. It was charred black. There were also sooted blotches on the doorframes. She took a few deep breaths and began to cry.

Cousins hugged her and talked in a calming voice. After that they returned to Amina's home.

They moved the last pieces of furniture on the lowest floor which was full of junk. The odd cousin was happy to help Amina clear out the workspace and they packed all of the books and scrolls with care. Amina was thinking she wouldn't need the desk but the cousin asked her to keep it. It didn't bother the other cousins even though the excess things would remain at their house for the time being as the odd cousin had no house of his own, just a shag at the edge of one village. They packed the cart with things Amina was going to take with her first and carried several sacks on their backs. The odd cousin came with them as there were no more valuables left in the house and therefor no need for anyone watching over it.

Amina looked at the house for the last time. It was empty. It was deserted. It wasn't a home anymore. She turned her back at it and moved on with her life. Tears welled up in her eyes several times on the way. She felt more of an outsider than ever before. She wished she could already be back at Groshna. She wished she wasn't Kahtal. She was wondering if the Keok had followed them because it had sensed her Gahim. Luckily it hadn't attacked. Luckily it went away.

They avoided looking at or touching the charred spot as they entered the house. They spent the evening planning Amina's journey back.

Amina went to bed happy, but her night was filled with restless dreams where spirits wandered around her old home and were wailing in excruciating voices.